10 notorious cars from the Petersen Museum vault

April 12, 2013 |Popular Mechanics

Underneath the spotless black marble floor that covers the halls of the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles lies a subterranean lair where cars sit patiently, awaiting their turn in the spotlight. Here are a few of the high-profile vehicles.

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Saddam Hussein's 1978 Mercedes-Benz 600 Landaulet

Built from 1963 through 1981 in small numbers, Mercedes-Benz 600s were some of the finest and most advanced sedans of their time. The Landaulet versions of the cars were the most rare, and used primarily by heads of state. They had a solid roof above the driver and convertible tops that retracted upon the rest of the cabin so the crowds could see the passengers clearly as it drove by.

The vents on the sides of the bodywork in the rear drew air for the air conditioner, which was installed in the trunk. This dubious 600 belonged to Saddam Hussein until his overthrow in 2003. An Iraqi drove the beat-up Mercedes out of the country and eventually into Jordan. A Jordanian car collector who also lives in the U.S. pointed museum staff to the car's location at the Mercedes-Benz distributor in Jordan. Why so many dents? Apparently, once the guards were through with their duties for the day they would sit on the trunk with their rifle butts on the metal.

Built from 1963 through 1981 in small numbers, Mercedes-Benz 600s were some of the finest and most advanced sedans of their time. The Landaulet versions of the cars were the most rare, and used primarily by heads of state. They had a solid roof above the driver and convertible tops that retracted upon the rest of the cabin so the crowds could see the passengers clearly as it drove by.

The vents on the sides of the bodywork in the rear drew air for the air conditioner, which was installed in the trunk. This dubious 600 belonged to Saddam Hussein until his overthrow in 2003. An Iraqi drove the beat-up Mercedes out of the country and eventually into Jordan. A Jordanian car collector who also lives in the U.S. pointed museum staff to the car's location at the Mercedes-Benz distributor in Jordan. Why so many dents? Apparently, once the guards were through with their duties for the day they would sit on the trunk with their rifle butts on the metal.